As authorized in the 1987 North Dakota Session Laws (S. L. 1987, Ch. 185) the Children's Services Coordinating Committee was to submit its plan to the Legislative Council at that group's first meeting in November 1988. The Committee was created with a membership appointed by the Governor for the purpose of planning and coordinating the delivery of services to children in need. The plan for coordinating delivery of services to children and adolescents included programs for those who are abused, neglected, emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, runaways, homeless, or dependent upon alcohol or drugs, delinquent, deprived, or unruly. The original Committee consisted of the Governor or his designee, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the executive director of the Department of Human Services, the State Health Officer, the director of Job Service North Dakota, the Director of Institutions, the director of State Board for Vocational Education, the chair of the Governor's Committee on Children and Youth, the executive director of the Indian Affairs Commission, and a designee of the Attorney General, and the Chief Justice or a designee. A special fund called the Children’s Services Coordinating Committee fund was established (S. L. 1989, Ch. 681). Additionally the Committee was to support preventive strategies and early intervention to strengthen families in parental responsibilities. The Committee was authorized to “charter” public corporations.

In legislative sessions 1991, 1993, 1997, and 2003 members were added, removed, or replaced from the Committee. Added was a representative of the juvenile courts appointed by the Chief Justice and the director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the director of the Office of Management and Budget (S. L. 1991, Ch. 592). The chairman of the Governor’s Committee on Children and Youth was removed from the membership (S. L. 1997, Ch. 51), and also the Attorney General, Commissioner of Higher Education, executive director of Job Service North Dakota, a designee for the Chief Justice, and a member at large appointed by the Governor. The executive director of the Indian Affairs Commission was replaced by a representative. The Director of Institutions membership was eliminated.

In 1995 legislation permitted the Committee to designate organizations to serve as regional and tribal children’s services coordinating committees (S. L. 1995, Ch. 502). In 1997 extensive changes were made to the Committee membership. An authority that originally allowed the Committee to coordinate, sponsor, or oversee interagency or intergovernmental programs was removed and instead the Committee was authorized to distribute funds to regional or tribal children’s services coordinating committees. Other funding changes included receiving approval from the Legislative Assembly or the Budget Section. Legislation gave the Committee the right to designate up to twelve organizations to serve as regional or tribal children’s services coordinating committees. The 1989 legislation that established the special fund called Children’s Services Coordinating Committee Fund was repealed (S. L. 1997, Ch. 43). In 2005 more changes were made regarding funding sources and who could accept funds. Also [NDCC 54-56-06] regional or tribal children’s services coordinating committees’ functions were extensively revised (S. L. 2005, Ch. 534).

In 2008 the Children's Services Coordinating Committee membership included the Governor or a designee of the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a representative of juvenile courts appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the executive director of the Department of Human Services, the State Health Officer, the director or designee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the director of the Department for Career and Technical Education, and a representative from the Indian Affairs Commission. The Governor or designee is required to serve as the chairman. The Committee is authorized to employ staff as provided by appropriations or grants. A list is included for planning and funding. In addition each state executive branch agency, department, and office may provide the support services required to achieve the objectives of the Committee. If a North Dakota community wants to establish a regional service or tribal children’s service coordinating committee the composition of the committee must include community volunteers and each committee must maintain its own records. To foster and nurture the broadest base of community support and participation, at least one-third of regional or tribal committee members must be from the private sector.

CHRONOLOGY

1989 The Children’s Services Coordinating Committee was created with a membership appointed by the Governor. A special fund called the Children’s Services Coordinating Committee Fund was established (S. L. 1989, Ch. 681).

1991 Legislation replaced the Director of Institutions on the Committee and added the director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the director of the Office of Management and Budget (S. L. 1991, Ch. 592). The executive director of the Indian Affairs Commission was replaced by a representative. The Governor also appointed a member at large to the Committee (S. L. 1991, Ch. 636).

1993 Legislation changed the name of the director of Job Service North Dakota to executive director who could name a designee to serve on the Committee (S. L. 1993, Ch. 714) and the chairman of the Governor’s Committee on Children and Youth could name a designee (S. L. 1993, Ch. 539). Another name change included the director of the Department for Vocational Education to the director of the Department for Vocational and Technical Education (S. L. 1993, Ch. 62).

1997 Extensive changes included a change to the membership, replacement of the authority of the Committee to coordinate, sponsor, or oversee interagency or intergovernmental programs. Instead the Committee was authorized to distribute funds to regional or tribal children’s services coordinating committees. Legislation gave the Committee the right to designate up to twelve organizations to serve as regional or tribal children’s services coordinating committees. The 1989 legislation establishing the special fund called Children’s Services Coordinating Committee Fund was repealed (S. L. 1997, Ch. 43) and other funding restrictions were listed. The chairman of the Governor’s Committee on Children and Youth was removed from the membership (S. L. 1997, Ch. 51).

2003 Name change for the Department for Vocational and Technical Education to the Department for Career and Technical Education (S. L. 2003, Ch. 138).